AI Damage2021 Ford Mustang: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Ford Mustang filed 55 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and powertrain. The maker issued 148 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 55
- involving a crash
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 148
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 18% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 16% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 15% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 7 Backover prevention 7% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 10 complaints (18% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Powertrain: 9 complaints (16% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 49.
- Engine: 8 complaints (15% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 38.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.3 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 5.2 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl
- automatic, 10-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
- manual, 6-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 55 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 10 | 0 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 9 | 1 | 49 |
| Engine | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 1 | 38 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 1 | 13 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Air bags | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags deployed upon impact. The contact sought medical attention and was treated for lacerations and bruising to the left eye. A CT scan was also performed which ruled out any further injuries. A police report was not filed.
The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering as the instrument cluster went blank and the charging system error warning message was illuminated.
The air bags did not deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact did not sustain injuries. The occupants of the other vehicle did not sustain injuries. There was no police report filed. The contact was able to continue driving.
My vehicle, VIN [XXX], is subject to NHTSA Recall 25V455 (Ford Recall 25S75) involving a defective low-pressure fuel pump that may cause engine hesitation, loss of power, or engine stalling. This recall was announced in July 2025 and remains open on the NHTSA VIN lookup as of June 2026.
Driver door opened to secondary latch position while driving on the highway at 70mph on 5/16/2026. The warning system came on and driver had to navigate holding the door and stopping safely during high speed traffic to close the door. Will take to dealership when next available opening day.
The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle shuddered while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that there was a banging sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated while pulling over to the shoulder of the roadway.
The vehicle had stalled several times. The vehicle was able to restart, and the loss of automotive power was intermittent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part was not yet available.
A steady Check Engine Light came on after starting the car; brought it to Ford Dealer of Montebello and they stated coolant leak and got into one of the cylinders that caused misfires.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 829 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mustang has 120 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 55, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 26E04 Certain 2021-2025 Model Year F-150, Maverick, Mustang,…
NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 26E04 Certain 2021-2025 Model Year F-150, Maverick, Mustang, Ranger, Expedition, Bronco Sport, Explorer, Bronco, Navigator, and Aviator Vehicles Powertrain Control Module…
- Reason For Update
update the parts list to change the claim quantity of the C clutch friction plates (HL3Z-7B164-A), C clutch steel plates (HL3Z-7B442-F), D clutch steel plates (HL3Z-7B442-D), add the rear driveshaft flange CV…
- Various 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may…
Various 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument…
- For 20212026 vehicles equipped with the 10R80 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test…
For 20212026 vehicles equipped with the 10R80 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test has been introduced in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). This test utilizes the pressure and vacuum…
- For 2021-2026 vehicles equipped with the 10R80 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak…
For 2021-2026 vehicles equipped with the 10R80 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test has been introduced in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). This test utilizes the pressure and vacuum…
- Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines…
Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
- Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various connectivity concerns…
Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various connectivity concerns with The Ford App Lincoln App including but not limited to: missing activation prompt pop-upon the vehicle's…
- Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless…
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated…
- Reason For Update
Change the part number for the transmission fluid heat exchanger bolt (Expedition/Navigator) as well as change the claim/package quantities for HL3Z-7B442-F and HL3Z-7B164-C. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model…
- Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions
* Harsh engagement * Delayed engagement * Harsh shift * Delayed shift * Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0751, P0752, P0756, P0757, P0761, P0762, P0766, P0767, P0771…
- Special Field Action 25L02 Certain 2017-2024 Model Year California Emissions-Certified Vehicles…
Special Field Action 25L02 Certain 2017-2024 Model Year California Emissions-Certified Vehicles Transmission Control Assembly Reimbursement
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes…
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in…
NHTSA lists 148 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford Mustang?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, powertrain, engine. Total complaints: 55. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (42%), hesitation when accelerating (13%), stalls while driving (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Ford Mustang?
NHTSA lists 148 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Ford Mustang from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.